noun
mil
MIL/mɪl/
A unit of length equal to one thousandth of an inch.
The machinist checks a metal shim only a mil thick.
Etymology
The connection to “thousand” is through division: mil first appeared in “per mil,” meaning “per thousand.” As a length unit, it names one thousandth of an inch.
In context
They had a thickness of 20 mils-a mil is a thousandth of an inch-so it was .020 inches
Mil thickness is a measurement of the thickness of the paint film when it's applied to the wall.
More examples
- One mil equals a thousandth of an inch.
- The specification gives the coating thickness in mils.
- A single mil made a measurable difference.
Forms
mil · mils